Inflatable toys and equipment for children provide an exciting and unusual way for children to play alone and together. Inflatables are often seen at children's birthday parties and picnics as a way for children to have additional fun. Each type of inflatable has its own risks and benefits that parents or caregivers should weigh carefully before purchasing or renting the inflatable. After choosing an inflatable, the children should never be allowed to play in the equipment without adult supervision.

Inflatable Bouncy House

One of the most popular inflatables for kids is the bouncy house. Sometimes known as a moon walk or playhouse, the bouncy house is fun for children of all ages. The bouncy houses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, for individual use or group use. It is possible to purchase a small bouncy house for one or two children to enjoy for a few hundred dollars. There is some safety risk with the bouncy house, as the children can become trapped if the air escapes, and there is some danger of children hitting each other inside the house.

Inflatable Slides

Inflatable slides are another type of inflatable toy for children. As with bouncy houses, slides come in all sizes and shapes. Most of the slides are designed for use with one child at a time, but some slides have two or more lanes for racing or large groups of children. Most slides use a large generator to power the slide and prevent it from collapsing under the weight of the children. The main safety risk with slides is the children falling off, hitting each other at the bottom of the slide or skinning their knees or elbows as they travel down the slide.

Inflatable Gyms

Inflatable gyms provide children with a fun way to wrestle, joust or engage in other friendly exercise. Some inflatable gyms have harnesses that children try to pull against before it springs back and pulls them into the walls of the gym. Other inflatable gyms have large ball pits for children to play in. There is greater risk of children getting hurt in inflatable gyms, and they are best suited to older children or teens who can handle a little bit of pain with their fun.

Inflatable Pools

Inflatable pools are a popular choice for the summer months. Inflatable pools come in all sizes, from a small pool you can blow up yourself to large structures complete with slides and waterfalls that require a generator to keep inflated. Inflatable pools have an advantage over hard pools because you can roll them up tightly for storage. The main safety risks with inflatable pools are drowning and skinned knees or elbows.